Compare towns
Middlesex vs Calais vs Proctor vs Montpelier
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Middlesex | Calais | Proctor | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,713Lowest |
1,794 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 29% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.